Food Poisoning Costs U.S. $152 Billion a Year

March 3, 2010 -- Food poisoning costs the U.S. $152 billion, kills 5,000
people, and sends 325,000 to the hospital each year, new calculations
suggest.
The figures come from a new study by former FDA economist Robert L. Scharff,
PhD, JD, now an assistant professor at Ohio State University.
"This study illustrates how serious foodborne illness is as a problem for
our society," Scharff said at a news teleconference announcing the
findings.
The study, underwritten by the Produce Safety Project at Georgetown
University and Pew Charitable Trusts, considers the direct health care costs of
foodborne illnesses as well as the costs of years of life lost.
The $152 billion price tag likely is an underestimate, Scharff says.
Of the total cost, $39 billion a year is the result of contaminated produce
alone.
The costs of foodborne illness vary from state to state, depending on the
cost of health care in that state and residents' average income (which makes
lost days of work more expensive).
New Jersey has the highest average cost per case of foodborne illness at
$162. Montana has the lowest cost per case at $78.
On average, food poisoning costs every American $505 a year.
"Overall, the costs are shockingly high," U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) said
at the news conference.
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